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sports Diaranson 25 november 2020

Christophe Dominici, star winger for France, dies at 48

(AP) — The death of and Mia.”The French rugby in an even bigger upset of
Christophe Dominici, the league said clubs in the top New Zealand in the quarter-
speedy and charismatic two divisions will pay their finals of the 2007 World Cup,
winger who lit up French respects to Dominici in their and won the Five Nations
rugby from the wing at the matches this weekend. once and the Six Nations
turn of the century, was “His classic tries helped to three times with Les Tricol-
keenly felt in the world of build French flair,” the LNR ors.
sport and beyond. said, calling him “a great play- “He left his mark on a whole
er who brought so much joy generation of rugby,” the
It even touched politics, with and talent to French rugby.” French Rugby Federation
emotional-sounding Educa- Dominici played 67 times said. “Today the rugby family
tion Minister Jean-Michel from France over a decade has brutally lost a legend, an
Blanquer announcing Do- to 2007 and scored 25 tries, emblematic player.”
minici's death at the National among them one of the most Former teammate Frederic
Assembly in Paris, prompt- storied in Rugby World Cup Michalak, who played in two
ing politicians to immedi- history. World Cups with Dominici,
ately stand and applaud the During the 1999 semifinal spoke about the huge influ-
beloved former player. Do- against favorite New Zealand ence he had on young inter-
minici died on Tuesday. He at Twickenham, while chas- nationals breaking through. in a glittering 11-year spell game, praised his former op-
was 48. ing a box kick from scrum- “He was a bit like our big with Stade Francais, having ponent and fellow rugby en-
England’s World Cup-win- half Fabien Galthie, Domi- brother. He had a strong started his career with home- tertainer.
ning flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, nici caught the All Blacks by character while being sensi- town club Toulon. “A French player full of flair
Ireland great Brian O’Driscoll surprise when he perfectly tive at the same time,” Micha- “As an opponent, Domi was with huge success through-
and South Africa star winger judged the bounce, grabbed lak told sports daily L'Equipe. formidable," Michalak said. out his career,” O'Driscoll
Bryan Habana were among the ball with his right hand “He was always there for us, "He was hard, he sacrificed said.
those who paid tribute to the and tore past two defenders reassuring us. I shared many himself for the jersey he Wilkinson, who played club
try-scoring winger, whose to score between the posts. good times with him.” wore. Thanks to his aura, for Toulon late in his career,
electrifying pace and flair had France won against the odds Michalak, who burst onto the he’d send the others to get chose to pay his tribute on
fans on the edge of their seats 43-31. scene as a mercurial scrum- stuck in.” Twitter in French.
and flustered opponents of- “It’s a shock, we’re all sad. half at the 2003 World Cup, Tributes were widespread “The death of Christophe
ten chasing shadows. He wore the blue jersey with remembers how Dominici for Dominici, who was well- Dominici is terribly said,”
His former club Stade Fran- such energy, such passion,” brought the squad together liked by fans, teammates, and he wrote. “We are thinking
cais Paris announced his Galthie said. “Above all he at the 2007 World Cup after opposing players alike. of all of his loved ones. The
death on Tuesday without was our friend. We experi- Les Bleus had lost the open- “Thanks Domi for all you whole of sport has lost a true
giving further details. enced great emotions togeth- ing game 17-12 at home to gave to French rugby and all legend.”
“It is with great sadness and er.” Argentina. the good times I spent with Habana, who is in second
profound heartbreak that Galthie is now France coach, “He organized a night out to you,” former France winger place all-time with 67 inter-
Stade Francais Paris has and his side will remem- get us back on the right track. and teammate Vincent Clerc national tries, admired Do-
learned of Christophe Domi- ber Dominici when it plays He was our engine in 2007, said on Twitter. minici's panache.
nici's death,” the statement against Italy in the Autumn he was a leader of men,” Mi- World Rugby called him “an “For me he represented all of
said. “A rugby genius and Nations Cup on Saturday. chalak said. “He had excep- all-time great of the game" the good things about rug-
companion without equal, he “We will make sure we pay tional qualities as a player, while the English and Irish by,” Habana said. “He had
will leave a great void in our tribute to him at Stade de you could see in his eyes how federations were quick to of- so much energy and was so
big family. Our thoughts go France," he said. determined he was.” fer their condolences. positive whenever we had a
to his family, his wife Loret- Dominici also played in the At club level, Dominici won O’Driscoll, one of the fin- conversation. Rugby has lost
ta, and his daughters Chiara France team which featured five French championships est centers to have played the a legend.”

Badgers’ Williams questions PI calls in loss to Northwestern

(AP) — Wisconsin cor- for pass interference. He said
nerback Caesar Williams defensive coordinator Jim
questioned pass inter- Leonhard wasn’t coaching
ference calls made dur- the secondary any differently
ing last weekend's loss to due to the penalties and said
Northwestern and said “he doesn’t see them as pass
the penalties won’t cause interference calls and neither
the Badgers to play any did the defense.”
less aggressively the rest
of the season. “Maybe refs aren’t used to
seeing perfect reps and they
The Badgers were called for throw a flag,” Williams said
pass interference four times while laughing. “It is a hard
Saturday in Northwestern’s job, but I don’t think a flag
17-7 victory. Two of the pen- should hinder a defensive
alties came on the game’s back’s confidence in what
opening drive, which ended they do.”
with a Northwestern touch-
down. Wisconsin is scheduled to
“At times I felt like the ref host Minnesota (2-3) on
maybe had purple under- Friday, though the Golden
neath their jerseys, I mean Gophers are dealing with
under their white-and-black pandemic-related issues.
shirts,” Williams said Tues- Minnesota called off practice
day. sin (2-1) tumbled from 10th while dealing a blow to the straight season. Tuesday and will conduct all
Northwestern climbed from to 18th. Northwestern (4-1) Badgers’ chances of reach- Williams had an intercep- meetings virtually as a result
19th to 11th in the AP Top 25 also took command of the ing the conference cham- tion nullified in the second of presumptive COVID-19
after the win while Wiscon- Big Ten West Division race pionship game for a second quarter when he was called positive tests.